The Barton Community College men's track and field team leaned into its strengths over the weekend, delivering a productive two-day performance including six national qualifying marks at the Washburn Open inside the Sneed Indoor Athletic Facility in Topeka.
Battling through multiple rounds against a deep regional field, the Cougars stacked national qualifying performances while reinforcing their presence among the program's strongest event groups.
Barton's most visible result came in the 4x400-meter relay, where the "A" quartet of LaMont Johnson, Emmanuel Adams, Keandro Gordon, and Simeon Adams surged to a runner-up finish in a meet-record 3:10.08. Already nationally qualified entering the weekend, the performance further underscored the unit's consistency at a high level, as the group continues to hold the 7th fastest in program history, despite running just over a half-second off its season-best mark at Washburn. Barton also placed ninth with its "B" relay, showcasing valuable depth across multiple combinations.
The Cougars' middle-distance corps delivered one of the meet's most impressive depth displays in the 600 yards, placing four athletes under the national qualifying standard in a tightly packed field. Simeon Adams led the charge with a personal-best and national qualifying 1:11.33 to place sixth, followed closely by Trevoy Smith (1:11.38), Gordon (1:11.39), and Johnson (1:11.66), each adding a national qualifier of their own to highlight Barton's strength.
National-level momentum carried into the 800 meters, where Macdonald Jansen clocked a national qualifying 1:53.71 to finish 14th in a deep race. Barton also added another relay qualifier in the distance medley, as the lineup of Shavan Jarrett, Taigon Peterkin, Sergi Gonzalez, and Jansen placed ninth in 10:23.58, meeting national standards and further expanding the Cougars' relay résumé.
In the field events, Chavez Penn continued his standout indoor campaign in the triple jump, placing third with a personal-best 15.59m (51-01.75). Already nationally qualified, Penn's mark currently stands as the second-farthest jump in the nation this season, positioning him firmly among the top contenders at the national level. Skylan King added a fifth-place finish in the long jump at 7.11m (23-04.00), while Jaylon Calder placed eighth in the shot put with an already nationally qualifying mark of 15.84m (51-11.75).
Barton now turns the page to Lincoln, Nebraska, traveling this Friday for the two-day Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational held at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Barton Men's Results
200m: 39th Dejuan Colbert (22.20)400m: 31st Trevoy Smith (49.16)
600yd: 6th Simeon Adams (PB NQ 1:11.33), 7th Trevoy Smith (NQ 1:11.38), 8th Keandro Gordon (NQ 1:11.39), 10th LaMont Johnson (NQ 1:11.66), 17th Craig Prendrgast (1:12.69), 23rd Furious Trammel (1:13.15), 29th Emmanuel Adams (1:13.70)800m: 14th Macdonald Jansen (NQ 1:53.71)
Mile: 57th Sergi Gonzalez (4:33.26)
4x400m Relay: 2nd "A" Meet Record 3:10.08 *Already NQ (LaMont Johnson, Emmanuel Adams, Keandro Gordon, Simeon Adams), 9th "B" 3:15.63 (Taigon Peterkin, Trevoy Smith, Shavan Jarrett, Furious Trammel)
Distance Medley: 9th NQ 10:23.58 (Shavan Jarrett, Taigon Peterkin, Sergi Gonzalez, Macdonald Jansen)
Long Jump: 5th Skylan King (7.11m, 23-04.00)
Triple Jump: 3rd Chavez Penn (PB 15.59m, 51-1.75 *Already NQ), 21st Devon Williams (13.85m, 45-5.25 *Already NQ)
Shot Put: 8th Jaylon Calder (15.84m, 51-11.75 *Already NQ)
Weight Throw: 33rd Gabe Daugherty (14.06m, 46-01.50), DNP Jaylon Calder (FOUL)